Enhanced absorption of omega-3 fatty acids from a novel krill oil-derived phospholipid formulation compared to fish oil ethyl esters: A randomized, two-way crossover pharmacokinetic study

Abstract

Background

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) offer many health benefits, yet the absorption from standard ethyl ester (EE) formulation requires concurrent intake of a fatty meal. This study aimed to evaluate the absorption of EPA and DHA from a novel omega-3 formulation, Phospholipids + EPA/DHA (PL+), which combines high phospholipdi krill oil (KO) and EE, in comparison to a standard EE product under a low-fat dietary condition in healthy adults.

Methods

In this randomized, cross-over, single-dose study, the pharmacokinetic profiles of EPA and DHA from PL+ and EE product was assessed. Each products contained approximately 1200 mg EPA+DHA. Participants consumed a single dose of the capsules under a low-fat diet regimen, with plasma samples collected at baseline and over a 72-hour period after dosing. Following a 14-day washout period, participants crossed over to the alternate treatment. Plasma concentrations of EPA, DHA, and combined EPA+DHA were analyzed.

Results

Twelve participants (six women and six men) were included, completed all study visits and were included in the analyses. The participants' mean age was 34.3 years (SD = 12.4), and the mean BMI was 22.6 kg/m² (SD = 3.2). The baseline-corrected incremental area under the curve (iAUC_0–12h) for combined EPA+DHA was significantly higher for PL+ (255.5 [SD = 81.4] μg/mL*h) compared to EE (34.2 [SD = 33.4] μg/mL*h; P < 0.001). The treatment ratio of iAUC_0–12h for PL+ relative to EE was 10.5 (95 % CI: 6.1 – 18.1; P < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for iAUC_0–24h and iAUC_0–72h for combined EPA+DHA, as well as for EPA and DHA individually. Sensitivity analyses by adjusting the minimal difference on dose between products yielded consistent findings.

Conclusions

The results indicate that PL+ technology significantly enhances the absorption of EPA and DHA compared to standard EE alone in a low-fat dietary condition. These outcomes suggest that the absorption of EE formulations can be significantly improved through combination with high phospholipid krill oil, as evidenced by the performance of the PL+ formulation.